Synthesis of 1,3-Polyols via Direct Aldol Reactions of Thioamides

Significance

The authors reported a direct asymmetric aldol reaction of thioamides with soft Lewis acid/hard Brønsted base cooperative catalyst. Various aliphatic aldehydes afforded the resulting aldol products in high yields and high to excellent enantioselectivities. They further applied this methodolgy to the protocol of 1,3-diol synthesis. It is interesting that the second direct aldol ­reaction proceeded stereoselectively in a catalyst-controlled manner.